Centrifugal pump with multiple inlets

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal pump ( 10 ) having a pump housing ( 40 ) that defines a substantially axial inlet port ( 32 ), a substantially radial inlet port ( 34 ) and an outlet port ( 30 ). An impeller ( 42 ) is rotatable within an impeller chamber ( 58 ) defined by the housing and is operative to pump fluid from one or both of the inlet ports to the outlet port when the impeller is rotated. A removable cleanout assembly ( 82 ) located within and forming part of the axial port includes a structure for supporting a wear plate ( 76 ) that is positioned axially adjacent the impeller. The cleanout assembly includes an inlet opening adapted to be configured as an axial inlet port to the pump. The cleanout assembly is removable in order to provide access to the impeller for service or cleaning. Either the axial port or the radial port can serve as an inlet or, alternately, both ports can serve concurrently as inlets to the pump. Mounting flanges ( 88 ) associated with each inlet port are adapted to connect to inlet conduits or a cap member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to fluid pumps and, inparticular, to a centrifugal pump having multiple inlets.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Centrifugal pumps are well known in the art and are used for manyfluid pumping applications. For example, centrifugal pumps may be usedto pump water from one water station to another. They may also be usedin construction applications, i.e., to pump water from an excavationcite.

[0003] Occasionally, a pump may ingest solid material which can causeclogging of the pump or compromise its operation in other ways. Manytimes this clogging may necessitate the disassembly of the centrifugalpump in order to remove the material.

[0004] Clean-out assemblies allowing access to an impeller chamber havebeen used in internally self-priming, centrifugal pumps. Examples ofpumps having this feature are known as “T-Series” pumps sold by TheGorman-Rupp Company. A self priming pump having clean-out capability isillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,014.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a new and improved centrifugalpump that includes the ability to configure the pump to have one of twoinlet configurations. In addition, the pump includes a removable wearplate support/clean-out which provides access to an impeller chamber andwhich concurrently provides the ability to have alternate inletconfigurations.

[0006] According to the invention, the centrifugal pump of the presentinvention includes a pump housing or body which defines an impellerchamber. An impeller, rotatable about an axis, is located within theimpeller chamber. The impeller is rotatably driven by a suitable drivesource,, such as an electric motor or IC combustion engine.

[0007] The pump includes a substantially axial port and a substantiallyradial port which both communicate with the impeller chamber. The pumpalso includes an outlet port through which pumpage is discharged afterpassing through the impeller chamber.

[0008] In the illustrated embodiment, the pump includes a clean-out portwhich provides access to the impeller chamber to remove clogs, etc. Inthe preferred and illustrated embodiment, the removable wearplate/cleanout is an assembly located within the axial port which isremoved in order to provide access to the impeller and/or a wear platewhich is located axially adjacent the impeller.

[0009] According to a feature of the invention, the axial port can serveas an axial inlet to the pump. When the axial port is not used as aninlet port, the port is capped by a cap member or cover.

[0010] As indicated above, the pump also includes a radial inlet portthrough which pumpage is drawn. According to the invention, either theradial port or the axial port can be used as an inlet to the pump. Inaddition, both ports can be used concurrently as dual inlets to thepump.

[0011] According to another feature of the invention, the radial inletport is arranged such that when it is not being used as an inlet, it canbe used to provide access to the impeller chamber in order to removeclogs, debris, etc.

[0012] According to a more preferred embodiment, an axis of the radialport and an axis of the outlet port are coincident.

[0013] According to a further feature of the invention, the axial portin which the cleanout assembly is mounted is configured to enable theimpeller to be removed from the impeller chamber once the cleanoutassembly is removed.

[0014] Additional features of the invention will become apparent inreading the following detailed description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pumping system including acentrifugal pump constructed in accordance with the preferred embodimentof the invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is another side elevational view of the pump system shownin FIG. 1, but rotated 900 from the position shown in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the centrifugal pumpshown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded view showing a wear platesupport/clean-out separated from the centrifugal pump;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the wear plate support/clean-out asseen from the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a volute housing forming partof the centrifugal pump shown in FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pump housing as seen from theplane 7-7 in FIG. 6;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the pump housing shown inFIG. 6; and,

[0023]FIG. 9 is a view of the pump housing as seen from the planeindicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a centrifugal pump and drivesystem constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention. As seen in FIG. 1, the system includes a centrifugal pumpindicated generally by the reference character 10 which is attached toand driven by a drive unit 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the driveunit includes an internal combustion engine 14 supported by a base 16.Controls indicated generally by the reference character 20 are alsoattached to the base, as well as other drive components (not shown indetail), which operatively connect the engine 14 to the centrifugal pump10.

[0025] Referring also to FIG. 2, the centrifugal pump 10 includes adischarge port or outlet 30 (shown best in FIG. 1) and two inlet portsindicated generally by the reference characters 32, 34 (and shown bestin FIG. 2). As will be explained, either port 32, 34 can serve as aninlet to the pump.

[0026] As seen in FIG. 2, the unit is shown with a discharge check valve36 attached to the outlet 30. The discharge check valve is conventionaland its operation is well known in the art. It is not considered part ofthe present invention.

[0027] The pump 10 includes a volute or housing 40 which, as shown inFIG. 3, surrounds a pump impeller 42. As seen best in FIG. 3, the pumpimpeller 42, located in an impeller chamber 58, is rotated by a driveshaft 44 which extends from the pump housing 40. The impeller 42 isoperatively connected to a drive source which, in the illustratedembodiment, is the engine-based drive unit 12 shown in FIG. 1. As seenin FIG. 3, the pump includes a flange 66 by which it is bolted to thedrive unit 12.

[0028] The drive shaft 44 is rotatably supported by bearings 50, 52. Thebearings 50, 52 are mounted within an intermediate or bearing housing 56which is secured to end flange 40 a (shown best in FIG. 8) of the volute40 by a plurality of bolts 57 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3). Inparticular, the intermediate housing 56 is bolted to threaded lugs 62(shown best in FIG. 8) forming part of the end flange 40 a defined bythe volute 40. An O-Ring 59 seals the intermediate housing 56 to thevolute 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting flange 66 is anintegral part of the intermediate housing 56. The intermediate housingalso includes a vent 61 for venting the region between the bearings 54,56.

[0029] Pumpage in the impeller chamber 58 is inhibited from leaking pastthe drive shaft 44 by a conventional face seal assembly 60. An exampleof the type of seal that can be used to seal the drive shaft is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 4,342,538, which is hereby incorporated by reference, andwhich is owned by the present assignee. Details of the seal and itsoperation can be obtained by reading the above-identified '538 patent,which is attached as Exhibit 1. Other types of seal assemblies, however,can be used to effect sealing of the drive shaft.

[0030] As in conventional, rotation of the impeller 42 (by the driveunit 12) draws fluid into the pump chamber 58 from an inlet to the pumpand conveys it, under pressure, to the discharge 30.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, and as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,the pump is a prime-assisted type pump and includes a priming hopper 70which facilitates initial start-up of the pump. As is known in the art,many centrifugal pumps require priming in order to begin the pumpingoperation. The priming hopper 70 serves this function and it may takethe form illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,533, which is herebyincorporated by reference, and which is owned by the present assignee.Details of the operation of the priming hopper can be obtained byreading the above-identified '533 patent, which is attached as Exhibit2.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, and as best shown in FIG. 3, theoutboard end of the impeller (the right end of the impeller as viewed inFIG. 3) rotates immediately adjacent a wear plate 76. According to thepresent invention, the wear plate 76 is removably attached to a supportindicated generally by the reference character 82 by a series of bolts84 (only one is shown in FIG. 3). The wear plate support 82 is bestshown in FIG. 4. In particular, the support 82 includes a plurality ofcolumn-like standoffs 88 to which a wear plate support ring 90 isattached or integrally formed therewith. See also FIG. 5. Thecolumn-like standoffs are attached to the inner side of a cap-likemember 92. The cap-like member 92 sealingly engages inside surfaces 58a, 58 b of the pump housing 40 and utilizes O-rings 94, 95 to providefluid sealing. The cap-like member 92 is held to the housing by aplurality of studs and associated nuts, indicated generally by thereference character 96 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3).

[0033] According to the invention, the support structure 82, includingthe cap-like member 92 can serve as a removable clean-out assembly toprovide access to the impeller chamber 58 of the pump in order to cleardebris or other matter from the pump housing. When the bolts 96 areremoved, the entire support structure 82 including the wear plate 76slides leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 and is thus removed from the pumpchamber 58. Separation of the wear plate support/clean-out assembly 82is best shown in FIG. 4.

[0034] In addition to providing clean-out access to the pump chamber 58,the removable clean-out assembly also allows servicing of the impeller42 and the associated seal assembly 60. After the clean-out assembly 82is removed, the impeller can be dismounted from the shaft 44 and removedfrom the pump through the opening left in the volute upon removal of theclean-out assembly.

[0035] The wear plate support/clean-out 82 also provides an additionalfeature of the invention. The support 82 can be configured as an inletto the pump. In FIG. 3, this configuration is shown. As seen best inFIG. 3, the cap-like member 92 includes an aperture 110 and also definesa mounting flange 112 to which a pipe flange 114 forming part of aninlet conduit can be attached. The attachment of the conduit flange 114to the housing flange 112 is conventional and is achieved by means wellknown in the art using a plurality of bolts 118. The pipe flange 114includes an internal thread 114 a (shown in FIG. 3) adapted to receive athreaded pipe/hose connection, nipple, etc.

[0036] When the support structure 82 defines the inlet port to the pump,the unit is considered to be in an axial configuration, in that the axisof the inlet conduit is at least parallel to the axis of rotation forthe impeller 42. Preferably, the axis of the conduit is coincident withthe axis of rotation.

[0037] When the support/clean-out 82 is used to provide the sole inletto the pump 10, the port 34 must be sealed. This configuration is shownin FIG. 2. To achieve this sealing, a blind flange plate 116 is secured,by a plurality of bolts 118, to a mounting flange 34 a forming part ofthe port 34.

[0038] As will be explained below, the blind flange 116 can be removedwhen the port 34 is to serve as an inlet. According to a feature of theinvention, the blind flange 116 can also serve as a clean-out cover whenthe port 34 is not serving as an inlet. By removing the blind flange116, access to the impeller chamber 58 can be provided to facilitateremoval of material, etc from the pump chamber 58 since the port 34communicates with the chamber 58. This relationship is best shown inFIG. 7.

[0039] According to the invention, when an alternate inlet configurationis desired, the aperture 110 in the support/clean-out 92 can be cappedusing, for example, the blind flange 116 that in FIG. 2 is used to sealthe inlet port 34. Alternately, the invention contemplates the use of asupport/clean-out assembly 82 that has a solid end cap at its outermostend and, in this configuration, serves simply as a clean-out assemblyrather than as a means for mounting an inlet conduit.

[0040] According to the invention, the inlet to the pump may be providedby the port 34. In this configuration, the port 32 would be sealedeither by a support/clean-out 82 having a solid end cap or by cappingthe aperture 110 with a blind flange 116. In this configuration, theinlet would be considered a radial port, its axis being orthogonal tothe rotational axis of the impeller 42.

[0041] According to another feature of the invention, both ports 32 and34 can serve as concurrent inlets to the pump. It has been found thatthe pumping efficiency of the disclosed pump is improved when bothinlets are used concurrently to provide source fluid to the pump chamber58. In addition, this feature can be utilized in order to facilitateattachment of the pump to a piping/hose system. For example, if thecentrifugal pump 10 is configured as a “8 inch” pump, i.e., the diameterof the inlet (and outlet) is 8 inches, significant effort may be neededto attach conduits to the pump flanges. This task can be easedsignificantly by utilizing a pair of 6 inch conduits (with suitableflange adapters) which are more easily manipulated by personnelinstalling the pump at the job site. Generally, it has been found that 8inch conduit requires the aid of lifting machinery, whereas 6 inchconduit can be handled directly by personnel.

[0042] In the preferred embodiment, and as seen best in FIG. 3, the axesof the radial and discharge ports 34, 30 are parallel and preferablycoincident. In FIG. 3, the inner peripheries of both the radial anddischarge ports are indicated by the inner phantom line 130. The outerphantom line 132 indicates the outer peripheries of the mountingflanges.

[0043] Referring also to FIGS. 6-9 (which illustrate details of the pumphousing 40), the method by which alignment of the radial inlet anddischarge ports 34, 30 is achieved, is illustrated. The pump housingincludes a jogged passage 140 which communicates the radial inlet 34with the impeller pump chamber 58. This is the same chamber which theaxial inlet directly communicates with. The jogged passage 140 allowsthe radial inlet 34 to be aligned with the discharge outlet 30. Thepassage 140 also allows access to the pump chamber 58 when the inlet 34is capped and is used as a clean-out port as described above.

[0044] Although the invention has been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it should be understood that those skilled in the artcan make various changes to it without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

we claim:
 1. a centrifugal pump comprising: a) an impeller rotatablewithin an impeller chamber; b) an axial port defined by a clean-outmember secured to a housing forming part of said pump, said axial portadapted to serve as an inlet to said pump under predetermined operatingconditions; and, c) a radial port including a passage for communicatingsaid radial port with said impeller chamber, said radial port adapted toserve as another inlet to said pump under predetermined operatingconditions.
 2. The centrifugal pump of claim 1, wherein said clean-outmember also provides support for a wear ring positioned axially adjacentsaid impeller.
 3. The centrifugal pump of claim 1, wherein said radialport is arranged to serve as a clean-out when only said axial port isbeing used as an inlet to said pump.
 4. The centrifugal pump of claim 1,wherein an axis of said radial port and an axis of an outlet port arecoincident.
 5. The centrifugal pump of claim 1, wherein said clean-outmember defines an apertured mounting flange to which a conventional pipeflange can be secured.
 6. A centrifugal pump comprising: a) an impellerrotatable within an impeller chamber; b) an axial port defined by aremovable clean-out member secured to a housing forming part of saidpump, said axial port adapted to serve as an inlet to said pump underpredetermined operating conditions; and, c) said clean-out memberproviding support for a replaceable wear ring located axially adjacentsaid impeller.
 7. A centrifugal pump, comprising; a) a pump housingdefining a substantially axial inlet port, a substantially radial inletport and an outlet port; b) said housing further defining an impellerchamber; c) an impeller rotatable within the impeller chamber operativeto pump fluid from one or both of said inlet ports to said outlet portwhen said impeller is rotated; d) a removable clean-out assembly locatedwithin and forming part of said axial port, said clean-out assemblyincluding support structure for supporting a wear plate axially adjacentsaid impeller; and, e) said clean-out assembly adapted to be configuredto serve as an axial inlet port to said pump.
 8. The pump of claim 7,wherein said clean-out assembly is removable to provide access to saidimpeller chamber in order to provide access to said impeller.
 9. Thepump of claim 7, wherein said pump is adapted to be configured as a pumpwith both a radial and axial inlet port, wherein pumpage is drawn intosaid impeller chamber concurrently through said radial and axial ports.10. The pumps of claim 7, wherein said radial and axial ports are eachconfigured with a flange connectable to an inlet conduit when saidrespective port is used as an inlet to said pump and a cap member whensaid port is not being used as an inlet.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said pump further includes a priming hopper.
 12. The apparatusof claim 7, wherein said impeller is driven by an IC combustion engine.13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said wear ring is supported in apredetermined location with respect said impeller by a plurality ofstandoffs attached to a mounting member which is connectable to a flangeforming part of said axial port.
 14. The centrifugal pump of claim 7,wherein an axis of said radial port and an axis of said outlet port arecoincident.